Brazil had to dig deep to secure a win against Colombia in their third group stage match at the Copa America 2021. Luis Diaz scored a superb goal to give Colombia the lead. The Selecao had to thank a moment of good fortune as Roberto Firmino equalized. A controversial goal invited protests from the Colombians as the fourth official added 10 minutes of injury time. Casemiro scored from a corner late into it as they turned the game around. Colombia were left heartbroken after a solid display.
FIM DE JOGO! A @cbf_Futebol ganhou por 2 a 1 da @FCFSeleccionCol pela quarta rodada da CONMEBOL Copa América
¡FINAL! Brasil le ganó 2 a 1 a Colombia en la cuarta fecha de la CONMEBOL Copa América
🇧🇷 Brasil 🆚 Colômbia 🇨🇴#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/XKWVsSEkzi
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 24, 2021
Colombia came into the game knowing a win over Brazil would seal their qualification to the knockouts. A win would see Brazil clinch the top spot. Rio de Janeiro played the host as the top two of the group toppers went head to head. Tite continued his heavy rotation policy as he made five changes to the side that routed Peru. Reinaldo Rueda altered four personnel as he welcomed two key figures in Uribe and Diaz from suspension into the lineup.
The game started with Brazil in charge of the ball early on. The Colombians had a sluggish start as they gave away the ball regularly. However, they were the ones who stung first. Going forward with their first attack they scored the goal. Their star player Juan Cuadrado whipped a cross to the far post from the right side. Luis Diaz ghosted to the far post and scored a spectacular over-head kick to give Colombia the lead in the tenth minute.
Brazil for all their attacking flair looked flat on the night. They were well marked by Colombia and were shut down effectively till half-time. Tite rolled his dice with Roberto Firmino as he subbed the Liverpool forward with a hope of turning the game around at half-time. Expectedly Firmino created a chance for Neymar, only for the PSG star to hit the post after rounding the keeper.
It was Firmino who eventually headed Brazil level what turns out to be a controversial goal. The Colombians protested for a long period of time as they thought that the goal was unfair to them. To pile more misery Casemiro headed the winner deep into the stoppage time to complete the turnaround.
A WORLDIE AND A CONTROVERSIAL GOAL
Luis Diaz returned to the Colombia starting line-up following his suspension, the FC Porto winger after a decent club season was looking to help his country seal qualification with a win against Brazil.
Juventus star full-back Juan Cuadrado plays as a winger and a primary attacking threat for his national team. He has a dangerous cross on him and puts it to use effectively. From the right touchline, he measured an expert ball towards the far post. Diaz a left-winger on the night sneaked into the box and scored a fantastic overhead kick past Weverton in the Brazilian goal.
🇧🇷 Brasil 0 🆚 1 Colômbia 🇨🇴
⏱️ 75’
⚽ 🇨🇴 Luis Díaz (10’)#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/LQjQQudRqi— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 24, 2021
It looked like it wasn’t Brazil’s day as they failed to convert their chances. Tite kept making attacking changes as they tried desperately to level the game. It came controversially to Colombia’s surprise. Neymar’s crossfield pass hit the referee Nestor Pitana and Colombia switched off waiting for a drop ball. To their amusement, the referee didn’t stop the play and let the play go on.
All three of Tite’s substitutes combined to produce Brazil’s goal. Lucas Pacqueta rolled the loose ball to Renan Lodi on the left-wing. The La Liga winning fullback put a cross into the box for Bobby Firmino. The Liverpool striker unlike Brazil’s forwards found space in a stunned Colombian defence and glanced his header past David Ospina. The goalkeeper didn’t cover himself in glory as he spilled a simple save into his net.
Chegou no empate! Roberto Firmino ganha de cabeça e marca 1-1 para @cbf_futebol
¡Llegó el empate! Roberto Firmino ganó de cabeza y marcó el 1-1 de Brasil
🇧🇷 Brasil 🆚 Colômbia 🇨🇴#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/vIlCfuQiTH
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 24, 2021
Colombia who defended brilliantly to that point felt undone by that goal. A moment of lapse following the referee’s decision hurt them. They protested for around five minutes despite VAR awarding the goal. The game turned into a nasty affair after that. To make matters worse they let in a cheap goal from a set-piece as Casemiro turned a Neymar corner home.
THE MENTALITY OF THE CHAMPIONS
What makes a good champion is the ability to never give up. Even when everything is against them they have to keep fighting and make their own destiny. It looked like it wasn’t Brazil’s night today. Am early goal from Colombia looked to end so many records that stood for years. The defending champions dug deep and said not today.
Tite is a coach who doesn’t believe in sticking to the same eleven. He doesn’t even have a permanent captain as he keeps giving the armband to all the deserving players. A similar policy can be seen in the squad. Irrespective of the results he keeps changing the team every game.
Cabeçada da virada! Casemiro recebeu de Neymar e marcou 2-1 para @cbf_futebol
¡Cabezazo de victoria! Casemiro conectó el centro de Neymar y anotó el 2-1 final de Brasil
🇧🇷 Brasil 🆚 Colômbia 🇨🇴#VibraElContinente #VibraOContinente pic.twitter.com/f1Pd9MUryq
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 24, 2021
This tactic looks like a stroke of genius if they get the result in their favor. But when it doesn’t it looks plain bad. Today it looked like a pale move as Brazil played disjointedly on the field against Colombia Nevertheless, he was quick to make adjustments with substitutions.
They enjoyed a tinge of good luck as Firmino’s controversial equalizer was given by the VAR. When it comes to the winner, there was no luck involved. Casemiro headed a routine set-piece move to seal all three points.
This is the perfect mentality of champions who never give up. This win means Brazil have won 10 consecutive games. From the jaws of defeat, they snatched a victory. A defeat tonight could’ve been a first home defeat at Copa America in 50 years and a first home defeat in seven years. Some numbers that.
COLOMBIAN HEARTBREAK
Colombia had the dream start to the game as Diaz scored a world-class goal to give them the lead. Ever since they took the lead, they had only one idea. Keep the ball from going into their net. It didn’t matter how they did it. They just had to stop Brazil by hook or crook.
Wilmar Barrios their defensive midfielder was all over Neymar as he didn’t let the Brazilian enjoy a moment’s space. The entire defence was tight and made sure no one got in behind. They took a well-deserved lead into the tunnel at the break.
Finaliza el partido.
🇧🇷 2⃣-1⃣ 🇨🇴#VamosColombia 🇨🇴#VibraElContinente pic.twitter.com/sdVKzCbNUx
— Selección Colombia (@FCFSeleccionCol) June 24, 2021
There were warning signs in the second half following Firmino’s introduction. A controversial equalizer broke their hearts and morale. The game turned into a nasty affair and Colombians lost their heads. They switched off for a moment defending a corner and got punished by Casemiro. They crashed right from the edges of a historic win to a heart-breaking defeat in 20 minutes.
Colombia now ended their Copa campaign with four points to their name, this loss to Brazil means they have to wait for other results to determine their fate.
